topsy turvy

too cool for school, a photo by foto fledgling on Flickr.

17 years ago today I was walking around the oldest covered mall in america having very short and far apart contractions... WHOA!

full circle moment

the in-laws, and extended family had their first gathering since the matriarch passed away (a few months ago). the sun was out, the sky was clear; it averaged 90 in the shade. kids played in the kiddy pool; babies slept, cried, or got passed from aunt to cousin, to sister, to mother.

there wasn't much to do but sit in the shade, and try to keep hydrated. and well... why not have a wine cooler?

Addendum to the Update:Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes....

thought I would provide some photographic evidence of the process discussed here and here:

getting finger printed

just a tiny portion of the judicial history of Allegheny County

Waiting for the Honorable Judge to arrive

after it is all said and done

UPDATE: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes....

She waited a long time, I told her before I would even think about the process legally - she needed to sit with it for a year. It was difficult at first, some didn't understand why she would make that choice, or how I could let her make that choice. She endured confusion by her teachers, who were only going by the system loaded class list they were given, she tolerated friends and family occasionally stumbling over the name change. She accepted that she might have to explain the situation time and time again. Lastly she was patient with me and getting my butt in gear and having some extra funds to get the ball rolling to make it official.... and then just like that in less time than it takes to boil an egg - the judge decreed that going forward she would now legally be known as Lincoln Huntyr Griffin.

I couldn't be prouder of her. She has grown into one amazing, intelligent, compassionate and beautiful young lady.